# Sunset Handicap

The Sunset Handicap was an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually during the third week of July at Hollywood Park Racetrack in inglewood, California. The Grade III event is open to horses, age three and up, willing to race one and one-half miles on turf. With the closure of Hollywood Park at the end of 2013 the Sunset Handicap ceased to exist.
Inaugurated in 1938 as the Aloha Handicap, in 1940 it was renamed the Sunset Handicap. It was raced on dirt until 1967. Since inception it has been contested at various distances:
* 9 furlongs : 1938, 1950
* 12 furlongs : 1939, 1940, 1967–1968, 1973–present
* 13 furlongs : 1941, 1946–1949, 1951–1966
* 16 furlongs : 1969-1972
In 1975, the Sunset Handicap was run in two divisions.
On December 2, 2009, this Grade II stakes race was downgraded to a Grade III by the American Graded Stakes Committee.

## Historical notes

* In 1976, trainer Charles Whittingham saddled the first three finishers.

## Records

Speed record: (at current distance of 1+1⁄2 miles)
* 2:23.55 - Talloires (1996)
Most wins:
* 2 - Whodunit (1959, 1961)
Most wins by a jockey:
* 13 - Bill Shoemaker (1956, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1967, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1987)
Most wins by a trainer:
* 11 - Charles Whittingham (1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1992)

## Winners

| Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
| 2013 | Marketing Mix (mare) | 5 | Gary Stevens | Tom Proctor | Glen Hill Farm | 2:26.78 |
| 2012 | Dhaamer (IRE) | 5 | Julien Leparoux | Mike Mitchell | Edward Brown Jr. / Jay Manoogian | 2:29.13 |
| 2011 | Imponente | 5 | Chantal Sutherland | A.C. Avila | Jessica Coudelaria | 2:26.65 |
| 2010 | Marlang | 5 | Joel Rosario | Neil D. Drysdale | Gustav Schickedanz | 2:25.45 |
| 2009 | Black Astor | 5 | Joseph Talamo | Lisa L. Lewis | A Breed Apart, LLC & Stephen R. Humphrey | 2:27.10 |
| 2008 | Warning Zone | 4 | Mike Smith | John W. Sadler | Rising Sun Racing Stable | 2:26.95 |
| 2007 | Runaway Dancer | 8 | Alex Solis | Dan L. Hendricks | R L Stables (Michael & Katie Kennedy) | 2:27.68 |
| 2006 | T.H. Approval | 5 | Alex Solis | Eduardo Inda | Tadahiro Hotehama | 2:26.65 |
| 2005 | Always First | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Neil D. Drysdale | Sheikh Mohammed | 2:27.00 |
| 2004 | Star Over The Bay | 4 | Tyler Baze | Mike Mitchell | G Racing et al. | 2:26.47 |
| 2003 | Puerto Banus | 4 | Victor Espinoza | Kristin Mulhall | Steve Taub et al. | 2:26.95 |
| 2002 | Grammarian | 4 | Brice Blanc | Kellyn Gorder | Lindsey Williams | 2:26.59 |
| 2001 | Blueprint | 6 | Gary Stevens | Robert B. Hess Jr. | Fog City Stable (David Shimmon & William Bianco) | 2:26:16 |
| 2000 | Bienamado | 4 | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | J. Toffan/T. McCaffery | 2:25.06 |
| 1999 | Plicck | 4 | David Flores | Ron McAnally | Al & Sandee Kirkwood | 2:26.97 |
| 1998 | River Bay | 5 | Alex Solis | Robert Frankel | Henri Chalhoub | 2:27.40 |
| 1997 | Marlin | 4 | David Flores | D. Wayne Lukas | Michael Tabor | 2:25.39 |
| 1996 | Talloires | 6 | Kent Desormeaux | Edwin J. Gregson | Randall D. Hubbard, et al. | 2:23.55 |
| 1995 | Sandpit | 6 | Corey Nakatani | Richard E. Mandella | Sierra Thoroughbreds | 2:25.50 |
| 1994 | Grand Flotilla | 7 | Gary Stevens | Jenine Sahadi | Mike Sloan | 2:26.35 |
| 1993 | Bien Bien | 4 | Chris McCarron | J. Paco Gonzalez | J. Toffan & T. McCaffery | 2:25.69 |
| 1992 | Qathif | 5 | Alex Solis | Charles Whittingham | Ann & Jerry Moss | 2:26.72 |
| 1991 | Black Monday | 5 | Corey Nakatani | Gary F. Jones | Abrams, Hicker & Lima | 2:26.00 |
| 1990 | Petite Ile | 4 | Corey Black | Edwin J. Gregson | Jean-Francois Malle | 2:25.60 |
| 1989 | Pranke | 5 | Pat Valenzuela | Edwin J. Gregson | Hector Sanchez | 2:28.00 |
| 1988 | Roi Normand | 5 | Fernando Toro | Robert Frankel | Edmund A. Gann | 2:24.60 |
| 1987 | Swink | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 2:25.00 |
| 1986 | Zoffany | 6 | Eddie Delahoussaye | John Gosden | A. Speelman / J. & A. Bodie | 2:25.20 |
| 1985 | Kings Island | 4 | Fernando Toro | Jerry M. Fanning | Dan Agnew & Charles Baumbach | 2:25.80 |
| 1984 | John Henry | 9 | Chris McCarron | Ron McAnally | Dotsam Stable | 2:24.80 |
| 1983 | Craelius | 4 | Chris McCarron | Charles Whittingham | Howard B. Keck | 2:26.40 |
| 1982 | Erins Isle | 4 | Angel Cordero Jr. | Charles Whittingham | Brian Sweeney, et al. | 2:25.60 |
| 1981 | Galaxy Libra | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Louis R. Rowan | 2:25.80 |
| 1980 | Inkerman | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Edward Hudson Sr. | 2:24.40 |
| 1979 | Sirlad | 5 | Darrel McHargue | Charles Whittingham | Abram S. Hewitt | 2:24.00 |
| 1978 | Exceller | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Nelson Bunker Hunt | 2:27.00 |
| 1977 | Today 'n Tomorrow | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Roger Clapp | Connie M. Ring | 2:27.60 |
| 1976 | Caucasus | 4 | Fernando Toro | Charles Whittingham | Fred Sahadi | 2:26.40 |
| 1975 | Barclay Joy | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | A. Thomas Doyle | John McShain | 2:26.80 |
| 1975 | Cruiser II | 6 | Frank Olivares | Ron McAnally | Contreras, Mamakos & Stubrin | 2:27.00 |
| 1974 | Greco II | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | E. E. Fogelson | 2:27.00 |
| 1973 | Cougar II | 7 | Bill Shoemaker | Charles Whittingham | Mary F. Jones | 2:26.00 |
| 1972 | Typecast (mare) | 6 | Johnny Sellers | A. Thomas Doyle | Westerly Stud | 3:20.60 |
| 1971 | Over The Counter | 7 | Jerry Lambert | Robert Frankel | H. T. Sheridan | 3:19.20 |
| 1970 | One For All | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | Horatio Luro | John A. Bell III | 3:21.80 |
| 1969 | Petrone | 5 | Johnny Sellers | Robert L. Wheeler | Flag Is Up Farms & E. Constantine | 3:18.00 |
| 1968 | Fort Marcy | 4 | Laffit Pincay Jr. | J. Elliott Burch | Rokeby Stable | 2:26.60 |
| 1967 | Hill Clown | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | William B. Finnegan | El Peco Ranch | 2:27.80 |
| 1966 | O'Hara | 4 | Donald Pierce | William J. Hirsch | Greentree Stable | 2:40.40 |
| 1965 | Terry's Secret | 3 | Alex Maese | Carl A. Roles | Poltex Stable (William R. Hawn et al.) | 2:41.80 |
| 1964 | Colorado King | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Wally Dunn | Poltex Stable (William R. Hawn et al.) | 2:40.80 |
| 1963 | Arbitrage | 5 | Pete Moreno | Reggie Cornell | Linda Cornell | 2:41.20 |
| 1962 | Prove It | 5 | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 2:39.60 |
| 1961 | Whodunit | 6 | Manuel Ycaza | William C. Winfrey | Mrs. Jan Burke | 2:39.00 |
| 1960 | Dotted Swiss | 4 | Edward Burns | Robert L. Wheeler | C. V. Whitney | 2:40.20 |
| 1959 | Whodunit | 4 | Raymond York | William C. Winfrey | Mrs. Jan Burke | 2:40.80 |
| 1958 | Gallant Man | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | John A. Nerud | Ralph Lowe | 2:41.00 |
| 1957 | Find | 7 | Ralph Neves | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 2:40.00 |
| 1956 | Swaps | 4 | Bill Shoemaker | Mesh Tenney | Rex C. Ellsworth | 2:38.20 |
| 1955 | Social Outcast | 5 | Eric Guerin | William C. Winfrey | Alfred G. Vanderbilt II | 2:40.60 |
| 1954 | Fleet Bird | 5 | Ralph Neves | Horace A. Jones | Calumet Farm | 2:40.80 |
| 1953 | Lights Up | 6 | Jack Westrope | Hack Ross | Clifford H. Jones & Sons | 2:41.20 |
| 1952 | Great Circle | 5 | Reg Heather | Warren Stute | John T. de Blois Wack | 2:41.80 |
| 1951 | Alderman | 4 | Jack Westrope | Willie Dennis | Breel Stable (George C. Newell) | 2:42.00 |
| 1950 | Hill Prince | 3 | Eddie Arcaro | Casey Hayes | Christopher Chenery | 1:48.60 |
| 1949 | Ace Admiral | 4 | Johnny Longden | William Molter | Maine Chance Farm | 2:39.80 |
| 1948 | Drumbeat | 3 | Thearl Williams | Jack T. Engle | Andrea Leeds Howard | 2:41.00 |
| 1947 | Cover Up | 4 | Robert Permane | Ross Brinson | Zack T. Addington | 2:41.20 |
| 1946 | Historian | 5 | Ovie Scurlock | Edward Anspach | Herbert Woolf | 2:40.80 |
| 1945 | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE |
| 1944 | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE |
| 1943 | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE |
| 1942 | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE | NO RACE |
| 1941 | King Torch | 4 | Johnny Deering | Graceton Philpot | Louis B. Mayer | 2:44.40 |
| 1940 | Kayak II | 5 | John H. Adams | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard | 2:30.20 |
| 1939 | Sorteado | 4 | Ralph Neves | Tom Smith | Charles S. Howard | 2:29.00 |
| 1938 | Ligaroti | 7 | Noel Richardson | Lindsay C. Howard | Binglin Stable | 1:50.40 |

### Other North American Marathon races

On dirt:
* Gallant Man Handicap
* Brooklyn Handicap
* Fort Harrod Stakes
* Tokyo City Cup
* Valedictory Stakes
On turf:
* Canadian International Stakes
* Carleton F. Burke Handicap
* San Juan Capistrano Invitational Handicap
* Stars and Stripes Handicap
* San Luis Obispo Handicap
* San Luis Rey Handicap